At sunset on Christmas Eve for more than 50 years, members of the Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Company have suited up in Santa Claus costumes and commenced the annual tradition of personally visiting all of the homes in town that are occupied by children. Santa Claus would always leave a gift for each child, such as a fresh orange, candy cane, box of chocolate, a dollar bill, or a stuffed animal. In more recent years Mrs. Claus joined in the Christmas Eve fun. Unfortunately, the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Sandy will interrupt Operation Santa Claus this year. Here are some photos from last year’s Operation Santa Claus. I also included links to Down By The Seaside posts from 2011 and 2010 that featured Christmas themes.

Bill has been known as “Sheriff Polhemus” for many years now, but he was known as “Chief” by the Seaside Heights police department and community before he retired and moved on to county government. Bill was also a member of the Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Company for many decades, among numerous local organizations he belonged to, and was a strong supporter of Ocean Air Support Squadron (a volunteer flight organization that I am associated with that serves the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department). Bill’s loss is sad news for our community. Condolences from all of us to Bill’s wife “Aggie” – Councilwoman Agnes Polhemus – and to his daughter and grandchildren.

Bill was one of the town’s few remaining links to the pioneer days of Seaside Heights. His grandparents, Mr. Samual McNicholl and Helen Gallagher McNicholl, resided along what was later named Dupont Avenue even before Manhasset Realty carved the town into lots and started selling. Bill’s father was a local contractor and built many of the early homes and commercial buildings in town.

Living directly across the street from Bill and Aggie during my high school years was always interesting, especially when my sister and I threw one of our Saturday night parties when Tony & Mary Ellen were out of town. But I’m fairly sure that he never ratted me out! In later years, I enjoyed our conversations about Seaside Heights history. He had so many personal memories and great stories he loved to tell. I learned something new from him every conversation.

Viewings for Bill will be held at the Timothy Ryan Funeral Home, 145 St. Catherine Blvd. in Toms River, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday. The funeral service will be held at the same location at 11 a.m. Friday. Bill will be buried at Ocean County Memorial Park.

Here are some photos of Bill from The Terry Groffie Collection, The Dr. Anthony E. & Mary Ellen Vaz Collection, and the Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Company Museum Collection. You can enlarge the images with your mouse.

If you grew up in Seaside Heights you know Al Poane. And depending on how many times you’ve circled the sun you may have even known Al’s mother and father. His family came to town sometime in the 1930s. His mother operated Mom’s Spaghetti House on Sumner Avenue and his father owned the nearby Butterfly Hotel. When Al wasn’t busy working tirelessly for the Seaside Heights Police Department he operated Al’s Car Wash on Blaine Avenue. Needless to say, Al and his family are a special part of our local history, and I can’t wait for all of you to hear Al talk about his love for Seaside Heights in the film documentary that Joe Verderosa (Greenrose Media), Peter Smith, and I have been working on. (“The Future Is In The Past” – to be released Spring 2013).

Like most residents of Seaside Heights, Al and his wife Sue have been temporarily displaced from their home by Hurricane Sandy. They’re staying at a motel until January. When I talked with them two nights ago as they were leaving Bobby D’s funeral service, I was overcome by the strangeness – surrealness – of what everybody is going through. Our vocabulary has changed since October 29th. Words like “disaster,” “FEMA,” “flood insurance,” “surge,” “water line,” “mold,” “base elevation maps,” “debris,” and “temporary shelter assistance” are a part of every conversation now. Most important though, when a guy like Al, with a small tear in the corner of his eyes, says that he’s never seen anything like this, it really hits you. No matter how many times I’ve stood on the beach since October 29th and gazed at the Star Jet roller coaster sitting on the ocean floor or Funtown in ruins, it’s a conversation with someone like Al that brings Hurricane Sandy into focus – conversations based on that invisible but very strong personal connection between locals and the town – memories from better times, today’s pain and anger, and fear and doubt about tomorrow.

Merry Christmas to Al & Sue, and all of my friends and acquaintences from town who are spending the holiday season on the mainland.

“Al’s Car Wash” and “Mom’s Spaghetti House” are from The Terry Groffie Collection. News article images are from The Dr. Anthony E. & Mary Ellen Vaz Collection. The images can be enlarged with your mouse. The first color photograph was taken by me last December at the annual POSH Christmas meeting. The second color photograph was taken by me last December at the annual Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Company Christmas Banquet.

“Bobby D”…father, grandfather, businessman, former councilman, and friend of the Seaside Heights community. He will be greatly missed by many of us.

AGE: 72 • Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant

Robert N. “Bobby D” Dionisio, 72, lifelong resident of Seaside Heights and Pt. Pleasant, passed away on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Hackensack, he lived in Seaside Heights most of his life, moving to Pt. Pleasant 15 years ago. Bob enjoyed a longtime career in the restaurant business, owning Bob’s Ranch House, Captain Hook’s Restaurant and managed Nick’s Clam Bar for his dad and Park Seafood Restaurant for his son, Nick. He also managed and worked at Martell’s Shrimp Bar, Pt. Pleasant, The Surf Club, Ortley Beach, and Yakety Yak’s in Seaside Heights and Ocean Township. He served as a councilman in Seaside Heights for 12 years. Bob was an amazing cook. He enjoyed spending time with his cherished family and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He was predeceased by his parents, Nicholas and Antoinette Dionisio. Surviving are his former wife, Marsha Dionisio; his children, Stacey Ann Smith and her husband Glenn, Nicholas and his wife Lauren, Robert and his wife Elena, and Rodney and his wife Augelle; and his grandchildren, Shane and Alanah Smith, Carver, Lucien, Giovanni and Sasha Dionisio.

A Memorial Gathering to celebrate Bob’s life will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, with a service at 8 p.m. at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River. Cremation will be private. Condolences may be made by visiting www.andersonandcampbell.com.

Some news articles and photos I was able to find among Terry’s, Leonard’s, and Tony’s collections…